Skip to main content
Journal cover image

Supporting Spartina: Interdisciplinary perspective shows Spartina as a distinct solid genus.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Bortolus, A; Adam, P; Adams, JB; Ainouche, ML; Ayres, D; Bertness, MD; Bouma, TJ; Bruno, JF; Caçador, I; Carlton, JT; Castillo, JM; Costa, CSB ...
Published in: Ecology
November 2019

In 2014, a DNA-based phylogenetic study confirming the paraphyly of the grass subtribe Sporobolinae proposed the creation of a large monophyletic genus Sporobolus, including (among others) species previously included in the genera Spartina, Calamovilfa, and Sporobolus. Spartina species have contributed substantially (and continue contributing) to our knowledge in multiple disciplines, including ecology, evolutionary biology, molecular biology, biogeography, experimental ecology, biological invasions, environmental management, restoration ecology, history, economics, and sociology. There is no rationale so compelling to subsume the name Spartina as a subgenus that could rival the striking, global iconic history and use of the name Spartina for over 200 yr. We do not agree with the subjective arguments underlying the proposal to change Spartina to Sporobolus. We understand the importance of both the objective phylogenetic insights and of the subjective formalized nomenclature and hope that by opening this debate we will encourage positive feedback that will strengthen taxonomic decisions with an interdisciplinary perspective. We consider that the strongly distinct, monophyletic clade Spartina should simply and efficiently be treated as the genus Spartina.

Duke Scholars

Altmetric Attention Stats
Dimensions Citation Stats

Published In

Ecology

DOI

EISSN

1939-9170

ISSN

1939-9170

Publication Date

November 2019

Volume

100

Issue

11

Start / End Page

e02863

Related Subject Headings

  • Poaceae
  • Phylogeny
  • Ecology
  • 4102 Ecological applications
  • 3109 Zoology
  • 3103 Ecology
  • 0603 Evolutionary Biology
  • 0602 Ecology
  • 0501 Ecological Applications
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Bortolus, A., Adam, P., Adams, J. B., Ainouche, M. L., Ayres, D., Bertness, M. D., … Weis, J. S. (2019). Supporting Spartina: Interdisciplinary perspective shows Spartina as a distinct solid genus. Ecology, 100(11), e02863. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.2863
Bortolus, Alejandro, Paul Adam, Janine B. Adams, Malika L. Ainouche, Debra Ayres, Mark D. Bertness, Tjeerd J. Bouma, et al. “Supporting Spartina: Interdisciplinary perspective shows Spartina as a distinct solid genus.Ecology 100, no. 11 (November 2019): e02863. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.2863.
Bortolus A, Adam P, Adams JB, Ainouche ML, Ayres D, Bertness MD, et al. Supporting Spartina: Interdisciplinary perspective shows Spartina as a distinct solid genus. Ecology. 2019 Nov;100(11):e02863.
Bortolus, Alejandro, et al. “Supporting Spartina: Interdisciplinary perspective shows Spartina as a distinct solid genus.Ecology, vol. 100, no. 11, Nov. 2019, p. e02863. Epmc, doi:10.1002/ecy.2863.
Bortolus A, Adam P, Adams JB, Ainouche ML, Ayres D, Bertness MD, Bouma TJ, Bruno JF, Caçador I, Carlton JT, Castillo JM, Costa CSB, Davy AJ, Deegan L, Duarte B, Figueroa E, Gerwein J, Gray AJ, Grosholz ED, Hacker SD, Hughes AR, Mateos-Naranjo E, Mendelssohn IA, Morris JT, Muñoz-Rodríguez AF, Nieva FJJ, Levin LA, Li B, Liu W, Pennings SC, Pickart A, Redondo-Gómez S, Richardson DM, Salmon A, Schwindt E, Silliman BR, Sotka EE, Stace C, Sytsma M, Temmerman S, Turner RE, Valiela I, Weinstein MP, Weis JS. Supporting Spartina: Interdisciplinary perspective shows Spartina as a distinct solid genus. Ecology. 2019 Nov;100(11):e02863.
Journal cover image

Published In

Ecology

DOI

EISSN

1939-9170

ISSN

1939-9170

Publication Date

November 2019

Volume

100

Issue

11

Start / End Page

e02863

Related Subject Headings

  • Poaceae
  • Phylogeny
  • Ecology
  • 4102 Ecological applications
  • 3109 Zoology
  • 3103 Ecology
  • 0603 Evolutionary Biology
  • 0602 Ecology
  • 0501 Ecological Applications